The North Otago Times THURSDAY, AUGUST 31, 1916. CENTURY OLD ASPIRATIONS.

North Otago Times, Volume CIV, Issue 13660, 31 August 1916, Page 2

The North Otago Times THURSDAY, AUGUST 31, 1916. CENTURY OLD ASPIRATIONS.

.Since- tlie- da ; v9 -when Trajan*- madeDa.ejaa Roman ..province, introducedBom,Tii' laws' 'kmr civilisation,' and'"'lo. Hie devastated country brought :kta;..frjjii).jilL.pai'Ls,.of-iJieJJouiaii;-Eiiv--plve who intermarried with ..the s.urvi-, vors of the Dacians and from this union arose the Rumanian people, the people 0f... the little.Latin island in the Slay ocean have been'lighting"for the integrity of their country, and a consummation of their national aspirations', liven the continual incursions of the barbarians did not extinguish the*,ilre of nationhood that burned in the hearts of the Daco-Uomaiis. .The Goths were dime masters over Dacia, and afterwarrts wave upon wave of barbarian invaders swept the country. First came (lie Jluns, then the Gepidae, the Avars, ■Hie Slavs, the Bulgarians, the 'Hungarians, the Petchenegs, the Tinnarians, and the Tartars passed-through., the Danubian kingdom, some making a longer stay than others. We possess very little historical knowledge, how-' ever, about this dark period of nearly a thousand years during which these barbarian invasions lasted. We know that the Eunianian national spirit survived

to face the later wars against the Turks, the Hungarians, :lud the interferenceof ■'Russia, Poland, and other Powers. For centuries the Rumanians have fought and striven to create a Greater Rumania by- the unification of the Rumanian race—llw.! union of Moldavia, Wallachia, Transylvania, and Bessarabia. But it must be admited that the short-siglit.cd statesmen of days' gone hv stoutly opposed the creation of a powerful and independent Rumania, despite the fact that such a nation would lie an important factor in maintaining thc.peacc of the Balkans in particular and Europe in general. Every Rumanian patriot lonics back with patriotic pride to the' days when Michael the Brave, Hip greatest herb in Rumanian history, in a short reign, of eight, years, realised by his sword 'the national aspirations of the Rumanian.' people. -.For Hie first, time in the history of Rumania, .Michael unite/1 under his sceptre Walliii'hifi. Trnnsylvania, ami Moldavia, which at that time included I ho provinces of Hiikowina and Bessarabia, lint (the. Hungarians of Transylvania revolted and the union was of short duration. Austria successfully intrigued against the "Prince of AValliichin, Transylvania and Moldavia," and Michael was treachprpngly assassinated. Then Rumania faced troublous

times and became first tlie vassal state of-Turkey :istt • -later ef-Russia. The Panariote regime, which lasted from 1714 to 3821, constitutes the darkest pages In the history of the principalities." The spirit of the race was unconquerable and a national revolt resulted in the establishment of a national government. After the Crimean War Wlalln.eb.in - and Moldavia, were placed under the collective guarantee of the Great, Powers,.ai.ul the southern portion of Bessarabia was restored. The liuninnifliis had set their hearts upon the redemption of the territories under a foreign yoke, and were fired by that love of country that led on their fathers to the re-malting of their country after the ravages of the invader. In 1857, the two national councils, one for Wallacbia arid the other for Moldavia, met and- unanimously decided upon the union of the two principalities into one state and the election of a foreign prince belonging to one of the reigning dynasties of Europe. Strange to say the Great Powers did not approve of the union and decided that each principality should be governed by a separate prince. But the principalities voting separately elected the same prince as the only means of bringing about the union, Thanks to the friendly efforts of-Napoleon 111., the aspirations of-- Hip- -Rumanian people 'were gratified and 'Rumania became a kingdom. Wars and rumours of wars have surged through and round Rumania but her national aspirations have not ■changed, iii .1860 a council of regency was formed and by popular vote Prince Charles of HoheiiMllern-Sigmaringen was. chosen, ittler, and mnler his wise guidance Rumania, gained her complete Independence and became consolidated into ii'moilerii, prosperous!, ami progressive slate, In..the Franco-Prussian war of 1-870 the sympathies of the Rumanians' were entirely with France, their elder, Latin sister, who had greatly helped them in (heir national regeneration. The same Prime Minister who is before the world to-day, M. loan Bratiano, when war between Russia and Turkey was inevitable, signed a convention on. behalf of Rumania to assist Russia. Tt is within the knowledge of the average atudent of history li'ow when'the Russians were defeated by the Turks at Plevna, Prince Charles of Rumania crossed'the Danube' at. the head of his army and as commander-in-chief of the Rosso-Rumanian forces covered himself with glory, and the fall of the now famous place was due in no small measure to the bravery of the Rumanian soldiers and the skill of Prince Charles, The Treaty of Berlin recognised the independence of Rumania, but imposed upon her the obligation to cede to Russia that portion of Bessarabia which was in her possession. Rumania received in exchange the Dobrndja, and Prince Charles became King Charles I. Rumania joined the Triple Alliance because she distrusted Russia, but in 1898 friendly relations were restored with Jiussln. During the Balkan wars, Rumania gained: a-stretch of country on the Danube as the, price of her almost passive part in -j he* war. In Ii)14 King' Charles died after a long and glorious reign and was succeeded by. his nephew, King Ferdinand, who married in 1893, Princess Mary of Edinburgh, a granddaughter of Queen 'Victoria, Again Rumania.has unsheathed the sword bemuse her statesmen recognise that the Rumanians are citizens of Europe and (is such their place is on the side' of the Powers who are fighting in the strugglethat is going ; ;on. for. the,,sako,of the liberty of every nation and the independence of every state, great or. small—thf.only.means by which their national aspirations' of'a Greater Rumania, can be consummated.